title: New advances in compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.
abstract: Leg ulceration, often caused by venous stasis, arterial insufficiency, or both, is a common chronic health condition often associated with a prolonged healing trajectory and frequent recurrence. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 to 3.0 per 1,000 adults have active leg ulcers, and the prevalence continues to increase due to an aging population. Management of chronic edema using compression is crucial to promote healing of venous leg ulcers. The principle of compression therapy is simple, involving the use of external pressure in the forms of bandages or wraps to move the fluid from the interstitial space back into the intravascular compartment and prevent reflux. This article synthesizes and appraises the evidence for various types of compression therapies. It also addresses best practice recommendations for the management of leg ulcers when arterial circulation is considered suboptimal.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing Clinic Women's College Hospital Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Transplantation Centre Hospitalier de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Despatis
authors.affiliation: 3M Canada Company London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D058128:Compression Bandages / Q000639:trends*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors; D053828:Stockings, Compression / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*